The Award - Matthew Pearl

nThe Award begins as a wryly funny satire of thwarted literary ambition, but it quickly evolves into something darker and more disturbing. Matthew Pearl's addictive and propulsive novel has the twisted nightmare logic of a Patricia Highsmith thriller.--Tom Perrotta, New York Times bestselling author of Tracy Flick Can't Win and Mrs. Fletchern nThe author of Save Our Souls and The Dante Club makes his eagerly awaited return to fiction with this irreverent and propulsive novel about a young writer trying to make his way through a cutthroat literary scene that turns deadly.n nDavid Trent is an aspiring novelist in Cambridge, Massachusetts, trying to navigate his ambitions in a place that has writers around every corner.n nHe lives in an apartment above a Very Famous Author named Silas Hale who, beneath his celebrated image, is a bombastic, vindictive monster who refuses to allow his new neighbor even to make eye contact with him.n nUntil young David wins a prestigious award for his new book.n nSuddenly Silas is interested--if intensely spiteful.n nBut soon, the administrator of the award comes to David with alarming news, forcing the writer into a desperate set of choices.n nFate intervenes--with shocking consequences. . . .n nWith the wit and psychological wisdom of The Plot and The Winner, The Award is a timely, razor-sharp, and unputdownable novel about writing groups, publishing, ambition, human foibles, and the dangerous things we will do to get ahead.n